Striking mechanism for clocks



3 Sheets-Shee STRIKI ATTORNEYS Febo My i933, J. J. CLAVES STRIKING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Filed June 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRIKING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Application June 5, 1936, Serial N0. 33,614

2 Claims.

This invention relates to clock mechanisms and more particularly to the striking mechanism thereof.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a striking mechanism for use in combination with conventional clock mechanisms and embodying means for causing the clock to strike at predetermined intervals in a predetermined manner. More specifically, the present means functions at six A. M., twelve noon and six P. M. to operate a hammer to cause engagement thereof with a gong or other sound device a predetermined number of times, nine for example, with the successive strokes of the hammer at regularly timed intervals, and then after the completion of the nine strokes of the hammer to cause a second hammer to function in connection with a second gong or sound device having a different tone, there being a like number of strokes of the second hammer at a more rapid rate than those of the first hammer. At times other than those indicated the present mechanism functions to maintain the hammer actuating mechanism inoperative.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clock striking mechanism With means co-operating with the time train of a clock mechanism for accurately timing the actuation of the striking train, particularly in a device wherein the striking train functions at time intervals greater than one hour.

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the present clock mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, several of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1 being omitted from Fig. 3

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmental elevations illustrating different stages of operation;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the striking mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a plan of the striking mechanism;

Figs. 9 and l0 are opposite elevations of a detail, and

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a dial.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

The numeral I designates the front plate and 2 the rear plate of the frame which supports ,the clock mechanism. Rotatably supported in the plates I and 2 is a shaft 3 supporting the time train spring 4, the spring 4 being connecte'd with a main gear 5 in the usual manner. The end 6 of the shaft 3 is squared or otherwise angularly formed for the reception of a key for Winding the spring 4 and conventional means is provided for holding the spring in tension during and after being wound. The main gear 5 meshes with a pinion 1 on a shaft 8 carrying the gear 9, the latter being in constant mesh with a pinion I (shown only in Fig. 2). The pinion I0 is loosely mounted on an arbor II disposed centrally of the clock frame, there being a compressed coil spring 52 sleeved on the arbor and yieldably holding the pinion in engagement With a shoulder I3 on the arbor to establish a frictional driving connection therewith. The minute hand I4 is mounted on the outer end of the arbor II.

The gear train between the arbor I I and the spring 4 is controlled by a conventional escapement comprising a pallet member I5 pivoted on a shaft I6 and adapted for engagement With the teeth on the escape Wheel il. A pendulum (not shown) is connected with the shaft I5, in the usual manner, to control the movements of the pallet member. The escape Wheel Il is mounted upon a shaft I8 carrying a pinion I9 meshing with a gear 2). The gear 20 is mounted upon a shaft 2i carrying a pinion 22 meshing With a gear 23, the latter being mounted upon a shaft 24 having a pinion 25 meshing with the above described gear 9. Movement of the gear 9 is controlled by the above described escapement and gear train so that it functions to rotate the pinion I0 and arbor II at the rate of one complete revolution per hour.

Mounted upon the arbor II, to rotate therewith, is a cam disk 26, the disk being circular in form with the exception of a single notch 21. The disk 25 is positioned with respect to the arbor II and the minute indicating hand thereon so that when the hand I4 is in a position pointing vertically (indicating the siXtieth minute) the notch 21 will be disposed at the top of the disk, substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The cam disk 26 has a pinion 28 formed integral therewith or connected thereto, the pinion being in mesh with a gear 29 rotatably supported upon a spindle 3E! and having a pinion 3l connected thereto to rotate therewith and meshing with a gear 32. The gear 32 is loosely journalled upon the arbor II so that it may rotate freely with respect thereto and has a pinion 33 and a tubular extension 34 connected thereto, the tubular CFI extension 34 having the hour hand 35 mounted thereupon. The function of the gear train composed of gears 29 and 32 and pinions 28 and 3I is to reduce the speed of rotation of they tubular extension 34, with respect to the arbor I I, whereby the tubular extension 34 and pinion 33 make one complete revolution every twelve hours.

rIhe above described structure, with the exception of the cam disk 26, comprises an example of aV conventional clock mechanism and forms no novel part of this invention. The mechanism to be hereinafter described constitutes the novel part of the present clock, and it will be understood that its use is not confined to the particular mechanism above described. As will hereinafter appear the present invention will function in combination with any clock mechanism wherein the time train embodies a part which makes one complete revolution every sixty minutes and a part which makes one complete revolution every twelve hours. Obviously, all clock mechanisms must necessarily include such parts. Supported by the plate l is a rotatable -shaft 36 having a gear 3'! secured thereon and meshing with the pinion 33. rIhe gear 3'i is of a diameter whereby it makes one half of a revolution with each revolution of the pinion 33, the result being that the shaft 36 makes one complete revolution every twenty-four hours. Mounted upon the shaft 36 is a cam disk 33 having three notches 39, and 4I formed in the periphery thereof. The notches are so disposed that the notches 39 and 40 are ninety degrees apart, the notches 46 and 4I ninety degrees apart, and the notches 4I and 38 one hundred and eighty degrees apart. The gear 3l ,and pinion 33 are relatively indexed whereby the notch 39 will be at the top of the disk 38, as shown in Fig. 4, when the hour hand 35 is in a position indicating six A. M., the notch '4U at the top when the hour hand 35 indicates twelve noon, andthe notch 4i at the top when the hour hand 35 indicates six P. M.

Rotatably supported by the plates l and 2 is a shaft 42 supporting the striking train spring 43,

the shaft having an angular end 44 for the reception of a key or like instrument for winding the spring to place the same under tension. Connectedwith the spring 43 is a main gear 43 and means is illustrated at 45, on the main gear, for retaining the spring 43 in tension. The main gear 44 meshes with a pinion 45 on a shaft 4l having a gear 48 mounted thereon, the end of the shaft ,41 being extended through the rear plate 2 as indicated at 49 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The gear 48 has a pin 59 secured rigidly-thereto on the side thereof which is nearest the front plate l.

The gear 48 meshes with a pinion 5I on a shaft 52 carrying the gear 53. The gear 53 has a pin 54Y secured to one of the Yfaces thereof and projecting rigidly therefrom. Further, the gear 53 meshes with a pinion 5,5 on a shaft 56 having a gear 5l meshing with the pinion 53 which is on the shaft 59-supporting the vane type governor 66.

On the end 49 of the shaft 43 is mounted a wheel 6I having a seriesY of pins 62 projecting perpendicular from one of the faces thereof. The pins 62 arer equally spaced apart and are distributedover an arc of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, there preferably being Vnine of .such pins. Diarnetrically opposite the series of pins 62 is a second series 63, on the opposite side of the wheel 3i and with the pins 63' closer togetherithan the pins 32. Supported by the plate'2V are two hammers B4 and 65, the hammer 64 having an actuating part 66 disposed adjacent to the side of the wheel 6I carrying the pins 63 and the hammer 65 having an actuating part 61 disposed adjacent the side of the wheel '6I upon which the pins 62 are mounted. Upon rotation of the wheel 6I the pins 63 engage the hammer actuator 66 and the pins 62 engage the hammer actuator 67. A bell, gong or other sound device is arranged adjacent each hammer, by way of example there being shown a bell 68 adjacent the hammer 64 and a bell 69 adjacent the hammer 65.

Pivotally mounted upon a spindle 10, carried by the plate I, is a forked lever comprised of parts il and l2, these parts either being formed integral or otherwise connected together so that they move in unison. The part II has an arm I3 extending inwardly therefrom across the cam disk 3S and with a reduced end portion 'I4 disposed in close proximity to the side of the gear 48 on which the pin 59 is mounted. The part 'I2 has an arm or pin i5 extending across the cam. disk 26. A spring 33 normally urges pivotal movement of the forked arm parts 'II and l2 to cause contact between the arms i3 and l5 and the camvdisks 38 and 26 respectively.

Mounted in the plates I and 2 above the gear 53 is a shaft 'F6 having a lever TI on theouter end thereof connected to the forked arm part II by a rigid link i8. Mounted upon the shaft 'I6 is a hook 'i9 disposed in close proximity to the gear 53 so that it is adapted to engage the'pin 54 thereon.

Ordinarily, themechanism as viewed in Fig. 1 is concealed by a dial 86, disposed as shown in Fig. 2 between the indicating hands I4 and 35 and the pinion 33. The dial, as shown in Fig. l1, has a central aperture BI through which the arbor. I I and tubular extension 34 extend, andV also apertures 82 providing access to the shafts 3 and 42. Instead of bearing the usual indicia,the present dial bears only the numerals l2. and 6.

In operation,A when the two disks 26 Vand 38 have been moved to a position. wherethe notch 21 is at the top of the disk 26 and one ofLthe'notches 39, or 4I is at the top of the disk 38, the arm 'l5 falls into the notch 2l and the arm 73Y into the notch in the disk 38. For example, as shownin Fig. 4 the arm 73 is shown in the notch 3 9. The movement of the forked arm part TI accompanying suchV movement of the arms i3 and 'l5-pulls the link i9 downwardly, thereby rocking the lever 'il and shaft 15 to withdraw the hook 't9-from engagement with the pin 54, therebypermitting the striking train to-function. Upon functioning of the striking train the gear lamakesl approximately one complete revolution-that is, it. moves from the position shown in Fig. 4 wherethe pin- 56 is shown on the` right hand sideof the arm V'I3 until the pin strikes the left hand side of the reduced end i4 of said arm; When the'pin- SII strikes the reduced end 'd4 ofthe arm I3 movement of the striking train is againv stopped, although the hook 'i3-remains retracted so that'it is out of the path of movement with the pin-54.

The gear 33, being connected togthe shaft 141 causes the end 49 thereof to move approximately one complete revolution. During such movement, the wheel 3i in rot-ating therewith, causes the pins 63 to successively engage the actuator 36` and to thereby cause the hammer 34 to strike vthe bell nine successive blows. `After the completionof the above described nine strokes'a slight pause ensues, after which the'pins'i engagefthe actuator 3i and cause the hammer '63. to strike the bell 39 nine successive times. #Due `to fthe-fact that the pins 62 are closer together than the pins 63 the second succession of hammer blows will be more rapid than the rst.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. the striking train is held against movement. However, as the cam disks 26 and 38 continue to rot-ate with the time train they raise the forked arm parts 1I and 12 to their initial position, thus restoring the hook I9 to the path of movement of the pin 54 and at the same time elevating the end 'I4 of the arm I3 from the path of movement of the pin 50 as shown in Fig. 6. The gear 48 then rotates a small fraction of a revolution during the rotation of the gear 53 necessary to cause the pin 54 to again engage the hook 19. The mechanism is thus restored to its initial position and the same function will be repeated each time one of the notches`39, 40 or 4l and the notch 2'! are at the top of their respective disks simultaneously.

Although a specic embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it will be understood that various ch-anges may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a clock having .a time train with -a minute shaft and an hour shaft, a cam connected to the minute shaft, a second cam connected to the hour shaft by reducing gears providing a two to one speed reduction, said first cam having a single notch, said second cam having three notches arranged in a group with ninety degrees between the adjacent notches of the group, -a striking train including two gears each having a laterally projecting pin, a hook pivoted adjacent the first of said gears `and adapted to engage the pin thereon to render the striking train inoperative, a lever having parts thereon adapted to enter the notches in respective cams, means connecting said lever with said hook whereby movement of the lever incident to entrance of said parts into respective notches releases the hook from its respective pin and permits operation of the striking train, one of said lever parts being positioned in the path of movement of the pin on the other of said gears by said lever movement whereby it renders the striking train inoperative again after approximately one revolution of said other gear, said other gear pin and the leverpart engaged thereby being relatively disposed whereby movement of the lever incident to removal of said parts from said notches releases the pin when the hook has been re-positioned in the path of the first mentioned pin.

2. The combination with a clock having a time train with a minute shaft and an hour shaft, a. cam connected to the minute shaft, a second cam connected to the hour shaft by reducing gears providing a two to one speed reduction, said first cam having a single notch, said second cam having three notches arranged in -a group with ninety degrees between the adjacent notches of the group,`a striking train including two gears each having a laterally projecting pin, a hook pivoted adjacent the first of said gears and adapted to engage the pin thereon to render the striking train inoperative, a lever having parts thereon adapted to enter the notches in the respective cams, means connecting said lever with said hook whereby movement of the lever incident to entrance of said parts into respective notches releases the hook from its respective pin and permits operation of the striking train, one of said lever parts being positioned in the path of movement of the pin on the other of said gears by said lever movement whereby it renders the striking train inoperative again after approximately one revolution of the said other gear, said other gear pin and the lever part eng-aged thereby being relatively disposed whereby movement of the lever incident to removal of said parts from said notches releases the pin when the hook has been repositioned in the path of the rst mentioned pin, the pins on respective gears being disposed whereby upon release of the hook engaged pin the pin on the other gear is in a position whereby it cannot engage the lever part until said other gear has moved a few degrees less than one complete revolution, and the pin on the second mentioned gear being positioned whereby it stops the gear train with the hook engaged pin substantially spaced from the hook, whereby upon release of the second mentioned pin the gear train operates suiiiciently to move the second mentioned pin past the plane of movement o1' the lever part which it engages.

JOSEPH J. CLAVES. 

